March 16, 2014

Rookie of the Year: Boyd Dowler, 1959

Offensive End,
Green Bay Packers

Age: 22 (Oct.
18)

College: Colorado

Height: 6’5” Weight: 225

Prelude:

Highly
versatile, Dowler played quarterback in a single-wing offense in college and,
while passing for 769 yards, he proved to be a proficient pass receiver with 41
receptions for 628 yards and 6 touchdowns and also handled the punting. The
Packers chose him in the third round of the 1959 NFL draft with the intention
of using him as an offensive end.

Packers went 7-5
to tie for third in the NFL Western Conference in their first season under Head
Coach Vince Lombardi, the team’s best record since 1945.

Aftermath:

Dowler
followed up his fine rookie season by catching 30 passes for 505 yards as the
Packers won the Western Conference in 1960 for the first of three straight
years. With good speed as well as size, he proved to be a dependable short
receiver who was capable of breaking away for long gains as a flanker or split
end, becoming a fixture in the offense for the remainder of the decade. His
punting ability also came into play, beginning in ’60. Dowler gained a
career-high 901 yards, on 53 catches, in 1963 and was selected to the Pro Bowl
for the first time in ’65. His production dropped in an injury-filled 1966
season (which also knocked him out of the first Super Bowl), but Dowler bounced
back with a career-best 54 catches, for 836 yards, in ’67 and again received
Pro Bowl recognition. He played through 1969 before retiring to become an
assistant coach under George Allen with the Rams and, following Allen to
Washington, came out of retirement in 1971 when injuries depleted the receiving
corps before quitting for good. Overall, Dowler caught 474 passes for 7270
yards (15.3 avg.) and 40 touchdowns (of that total, 448 catches, 6918 yards,
and all of the TDs came with Green Bay). He also averaged 42.9 yards on 93
punts. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl twice.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).